Your Tax Dollars at Work

Let me begin by thanking you for paying taxes, especially in the state of Georgia, where I reside.

I've just gotten home from the Northeast Georgia Medical Center ER, where the Evil Genius and I spent the better part of five hours tonight/this morning, mostly watching the clock tick...and, luckily, a Spongebob Squarepants marathon.

Why were we there? So glad you asked.

Little dude was outside, playing, our first evening of unsupervised fun. Ahem. He wandered over to the neighbor's place - a nice fellow, older, often hangs out and chats when we're outside. His grandkids are visiting, and the Evil Genius was making friends.

The kids clambered up onto the back of K's truck. No worries, it was parked and not going anywhere soon. The trouble with getting up is getting down, especially when you're six and your legs aren't all that long respective to the truck and the ground.

I wasn't outside for the event, but T was - he said the sound of that noggin smacking the pavement was rather impressive.

The Evil Genius was more angry than hurt when he stormed into the house. He sat on my lap for a bit, played a video game, and was generally disgusted by my few attempts at mothering. Hey, I'm a mellow Mom...and I know what to look for with head injuries, having had or tended more than a few in my own life. I will resist fussing and running to the emergency room/doctor unless I really think it's necessary. What's a little blood among relatives? Anyway, he wasn't bleeding, swelling, wonky-eyed (that's a medical term, you can look it up...just as soon as I write the Wikipedia entry on it), wobbly, or otherwise showing signs of open or closed head injuries.

He was fine.

But...

Well...

He started throwing up, and he didn't want pizza for dinner. I know! Obviously something was wrong!! How could a kid not want pizza???

The third time he ran for the bathroom, I decided to take him on over to the ER, it being the only place for care after hours or on weekends around these parts.

He was sick a few more times...poor little guy, by the last few heaves there was nothing left but dust and cobwebs in there!

I'll spare you the ER boredom. Eventually, he went for a ride in a wheelchair (he says that was his favorite part) and into the CT scanner, where he did a terrific job of keeping still.

They looked and looked but couldn't find a brain, and since you can't injure what isn't there...

Seriously, he's fine. He got to watch almost five hours of Spongebob, charmed the socks off the nurses and CT techs, and generally had a fine time. Good thing he landed on his head rather than something that could have been damaged.

All of it was covered by Peach Care, Georgia's health coverage for kids, paid for by tax dollars. It's the only way I can insure the little dude. Neither T nor I are insured, and we're fine with that - we're adults and can make that choice knowing the possible consequences - but that's not an option for the Evil Genius. So...thanks for entertaining the heck out of my kid tonight, Northeast Georgia Medical Center, and thanks for footing the bill, fellow Georgians.